The proper way to position forks and knives in the dishwasher utensil rack can depend on the design of the rack and personal preferences. However, a common and recommended practice is to place forks and knives with their handles facing up and the blades or tines pointing down. Here's why:
Safety: Placing the sharp end of knives and the pointed tines of forks facing down reduces the risk of accidental cuts or injuries when unloading the dishwasher.
Cleaning Efficiency: Placing utensils with the handles up allows water to reach the dirtiest parts of the utensils more effectively, improving the cleaning process.
Avoiding Water Spots: When the handles face up, any water that might accumulate in the hollow parts of the utensils will likely run off instead of causing water spots or marks on the handles.
Hygiene: Keeping the eating surfaces (blades and tines) facing down helps avoid any potential contamination from the dishwasher's interior surfaces.
That being said, if your dishwasher has specific design features or guidelines indicating that utensils should be placed differently, it's best to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Otherwise, the handle-up, blade/tine-down orientation is generally a safe and effective way to load forks and knives in the utensil rack.